IllustrationThis man purposely rammed my car. He saw me in the lane but came over anyway and hit my car.
2006 Kia Rio
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2006 Kia Rio do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 38.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Rio years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
110–25K
725–50K
1650–75K
1275–100K
5100–150K
4150K+
55 reports with mileage · 19 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 50 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports0 fire reports11 injury reports
Structure complaints
3 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE FRONT CRADLE AND LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD SUSTAINED SEVERE RUSTING AND CORROSION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER TAYLOR KIA LOCATED AT 7870 MARKET ST. YOU…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 KIA RIO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE MECHANIC DISCOVERED THE FRONT CRADLE AND LOWER CONTROL ARM HAD SUSTAINED SEVERE RUSTING AND CORROSION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER TAYLOR KIA LOCATED AT 7870 MARKET ST. YOUNGSTOWN OH 44512, TO BE INSPECTED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. NO FURTHER INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 174,000.*DT CONSUMER STATED DEALER HAS AGREED TO PURCHASE VEHICLE FROM THE CONSUMER SINCE FRAME IS RUSTED.*JB
I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND ANOTHER VEHICLE MERGED INTO MY LANE. I WAS UNABLE TO AVOID THE VEHICLE BUT TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND HIT THEIR REAR END WITH MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT BUT MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND MY KNEE JAMMED UNDER THE WHEEL. THE IMPACT KNOCKED MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL BUT NO …
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I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND ANOTHER VEHICLE MERGED INTO MY LANE. I WAS UNABLE TO AVOID THE VEHICLE BUT TURNED TO THE RIGHT AND HIT THEIR REAR END WITH MY FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT BUT MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND MY KNEE JAMMED UNDER THE WHEEL. THE IMPACT KNOCKED MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL BUT NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE EMTS WHO RESPONDED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE VERY SURPRISED THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND SAID THEY THOUGHT THEY SHOULD HAVE. THE CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW FROM THE DEALERSHIP IN 2007 AND HAD NEVER BEEN WRECKED, SO I DON'T SEE ANY REASON WHY THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE. *TR
Official recalls
112V244000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE
May 31, 2012
KIA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2008 RIO VEHICLES, MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 20, 2005, THROUGH DECEMBER 9, 2007. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT SENSOR MAT CAN EXPERIENCE FATIGUE CRACKING. IF SUFFICIENT CRACKING OCCURS, THE OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (OCS) WILL CEASE TO FUNCTION SUCH THAT THE SYSTEM WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DETECT WHETHER A CHILD PASSENGER IS IN THE SEAT AND THE AIRBAG WILL DEPLOY DURING A CRASH NECESSITATING DEPLOYMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WITH A CHILD IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT INCREASES THE RISK OF INJURY TO THAT CHILD.
Remedy: KIA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE OCS SEAT SENSOR MAT, FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 26, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT KIA CONSUMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 1-800-333-4542.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.